Thursday, January 31, 2013

Brayden is slightly obsessed with all things sports. If he's outside he's either pretending to be a pirate, or he's playing some sort of sport (his favorites are football, baseball and basketball). The other day I walked outside and he informed me he was playing tackle football. He then proceeded to show me how he played. He literally played every position, and ran around the yard for about 30 minutes repeating each play. It was hilarious, completely unprompted and just made me smile. He keeps asking when he can play real football; the leagues here don't start until age 5, so he still has at least 18 months to go. Until that time, looks like we'll be playing tackle football by ourselves in the backyard ;)

check out his form! Drew's been working with him on making sure his fingers cover the laces.

He took a timeout because he realized he wasn't playing with a football jersey. The travesty.

Little Brother got in on the action too...

And for those of you who like video, this one's for you (if you're reading this via email or in a reader, you may have to click HERE to view the video):

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Brayden and Connor are at a really fun stage right now. They're just becoming the best of friends and it makes my heart melt. Of course, we have our quarrels too, and it's not just Brayden who is starting the fights these days ;) Oh yes, Connor can definitely hold his own.
They just adore each other... most of the time :)

Individually they're really cute too.
Connor is full of life and has the sweetest personality. He loves people, and always says hi to everyone he sees.
He also has a beast of a temper. We're trying to get that under control. I'd say we're 50/50 on effectiveness thus far.

Brayden has really turned into a sensitive spirit and a willing helper. He's quick to help Connor if I'm busy, and I've noticed that (most of the time) he is aware of other people's needs.
he keeps me rolling with the things he says and does. He is a character (his teachers at school say he's the class clown, always joking and pranking... I have a feeling I'll be visiting the principal's office a lot in a few years :) ).
I love his laughter.

We're having a pretty good week so far, dodging the rain a bit, cleaning house and playing with friends. Hope you have had a good week so far too!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I don't know about y'all, but sometimes our food menu just gets in a rut, and we end up eating the same things over and over and over again. I was on the lookout for new soups recently, and my good friend emailed me a recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup. I have to be honest here.... I'm no Paula Deen or Ina Garten. I like recipes that include opening cans, pouring into a pot, stirring it together and calling it a meal. Ease is my specialty. So I was kind of nervous when it called for a bit of chopping and sauteing. But seriously, this was so easy. And it was a fave by all in my family, which is no easy feat these days. I tweaked the recipe a little bit to add flavor and make it a bit more hearty in the protein department (hey, I have all boys, and my boys need to be FULL, so adding a few more beans to the mix is a good way to fill up their tummies), so I thought I'd share it with you in case anyone else is suffering from the mid-winter, food menu blues. Enjoy!

Instructions:Combine chicken, olive oil, garlic and onion in a large pan. Saute until chicken is cooked. Add cumin, cilantro, salt and chili powder to the meat mixture. Stir together until the meat is covered in seasoning well. Transfer mixture to a large stock pot. Add stewed tomatoes, rotel, chicken broth, tomato soup, black beans, corn and water. Stir together and let simmer for about an hour. While soup is simmering, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet. Add the tortilla strips to the skillet, stirring frequently; remove from skillet once crispy. Use tortilla strips, sour cream, cilantro, avacado and shredded mozzarella cheese as garnish for the soup.

Monday, January 28, 2013

mercy, this picture is awful, but I forgot to take one in the morning before church, so you get me all tired sleepy eyed after naptime.

How Far Along: 22 weeks, 3 days

Size of baby: 8 inches long, 1.2 pounds heavy. About the size of a Papaya

Total Weight Gain/Loss: ~10 pounds. (it's probably more than that, but I only check at the doctors)

Maternity Clothes: All maternity clothes. And if I'm truly honest, I mostly wear sweats and t-shirts. It's just WAY more comfortable than getting dressed these days.

Gender: It's a BOY! We're naming him Tyler Paul.

Movement: He moves A LOT. I mostly feel him moving first thing in the morning and then around 10pm. I love feeling him move around. It's my favorite thing about pregnancy.

Sleep: I've had nights of good sleep (and weird dreams!) and nights of not so great sleep. I'm a person who needs sleep in a desperate way, so I'm praying I have more days of good sleep. Everyone wins at my house if I sleep :)

Symptoms: My legs have started becoming super achy by the end of the day. I don't ever recall being this achy this early in pregnancy. So I have tried to lay low. I feel SO lazy just laying on the couch most of the day, but if I don't I just ache so bad at the end of the day that I end up being grumpy.

What I miss: I miss being able to breath normally, and wearing normal clothes. As cute as they try to make maternity clothes, it just doesn't feel as cute to me as regular clothes.

Cravings: Salads and cookie dough (yes, I realize those two things completely contradict each other).

Food Aversions: nada. Praise the Lord!

Best Moment this week: Nothing really jumps out at me. I feel like each week I continue to be pregnant without complications is a blessing, so we'll just say that's the best moment :)

What I am looking forward to: Just being one more day and week closer to meeting Tyler!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

We've had a pretty mundane weekend in our neck of the woods. Lots of errands and chores to do, so we stayed close to home and didn't have much on the agenda. Connor took advantage of the nice afternoon yesterday by riding his bike in the backyard.

The boys were pretty compliant this morning before church, and were happy to oblige in taking their picture. Well, they were mostly happy to oblige ;)

silly faces

he told me he was angry, and he put his nose in the corner and wouldn't look my way. I have NO idea why he was angry, and I have to think that he really didn't know either.

While Drew and I get ready in the mornings, the boys usually watch a show or play on the tablet together. They fight over the tablet a lot, but this morning they shared for quite a while before the fighting broke out. I love this picture.

It's been kind of dreary here, so we hunkered down inside for naps and a lazy Sunday afternoon, and are now gearing up for our typical week. Hope everyone has a great week.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Brayden is really into taking pictures lately, and will often ask me to take pictures of him and Connor, or of stuff they are doing. The other day he asked me if he could take pictures of me, and instead I offered to take pictures WITH him. He laughed and laughed at each picture that we took. It was definitely one of those bookmark moments with my kids, and a little breath of fresh air from some of the two year old drama that we've dealt with this week.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

I have a love hate relationship with the two year old stage. On one hand, they are equal parts baby and equal parts toddler. This means that they still think that you hung the moon and want you to snuggle and play and kiss and hug. And then they turn toddler and insist on doing everything themselves. It leaves everyone feeling slighted. Moments that would be no big deal to a 4 year old, end up being the end of the world to the two year old. And unfortunately these end of the world moments tend to go back to back, which makes for long days. Veeerrrry long days sometimes (don't even ask me about last Tuesday. It was epic, and topped last Mondays events by a longshot).

In an effort to at least add a little humor to the drama, I've started documenting some of Connor's epic meltdowns. Most of these meltdowns have to do with the fact that he can't wear shorts. Because it's a crying shame that his mom won't let him wear shorts when the temperatures aren't getting above 40. Bless it all.

this one he threw himself on the ground, and somehow scooted himself under the ottoman (which he then got mad about-- go figure).
he asked for a drink. I gave him water. Apparently it was in the wrong cup, and he wanted milk. Cue 30 minute meltdown. He eventually realized I wasn't going to cave and he drank the water. It wasn't so bad afterall.

I'll admit. These days of these tantrums have been long and trying. I've frequently questioned my sanity (or what little sanity I have left), and also if I'll be able to juggle all of this drama AND a newborn. Mercy.

But then, God gives me grace. In the form of a toddler in his sweet phase, that walks up to me in nothing but a t-shirt, rainboots and a diaper, and says in the sweetest two year old voice: "hi mommy!"

Somehow all of the tantrum moments seem to disappear (if only for a moment), and I remember that it's all worth it. The tantrums, the screaming, the knashing of teeth and the banging of heads. The rain boot moments make all the difficult moments worth it. SO worth it.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

I never really wrote a post recapping 2012 or looking forward to 2013. I didn't really have the time, or take the time, to devote to it. I do know that 2012 was a hefty year. In many ways, the Lord poured blessings on our family in ways I never really imagined were possible. And in many ways I left 2012 with a heavy heart. Friends had children who died. People I knew of had husbands die. Friends had (and still have) a sister who suffered several strokes and is fighting to return to normal. So you can see where I was ready to hail 2012 good bye.

But it also left me thinking. Life is so sweet and so fragile. It's very easy to say that we only have a moment, but until that reality is actually staring you in the face, it's easy to forget about the fragility of life as I run around in the day to day muck of life. Seeing lives end so suddenly or change so quickly has really left me with one question: what will my children remember of me?

You may remember that last year I struggled with being an angry mom. I'm thankful for where I've come since then, but I still have so much further to go. And leaving 2012 has made me ask myself, if I were to die tomorrow, or have something change me permanently today, what would my kids remember? Would they remember the fun times that we shared, or would they remember those moments when I lost my cool because I just couldn't handle another kid screaming. Would they remember that I chose them over my computer, or would they remember the times that I chose facebook or twitter over playing legos? Would they remember the times I hugged them and kissed them, or remember the times that I chose to ignore their pleas for another hug or a snuggle session on the couch?

I'm not a perfect mom. I have my flaws, like everyone else. But I hope that what my kids take away each day is that I will fail, and that I will apologize for my failures. I hope that they will remember that I may be fallible, but that I pointed them to an infallible Savior. I pray that they remember the moments that I had energy to play with them, and not the moments that I may feel like I couldn't peel myself from the couch. I pray most of all that they remember that they were fiercely loved, in spite of their failures and flaws, and that I chose them over all of the distractions of life. That's my goal for 2013. To make sure that what I live out is what I want them to remember. And to make sure that what I live out points them to Jesus. Because of all the things that I want them to remember, is that they need Jesus. Just like me.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

They told me that the days would be long. I didn't believe them. But I was wrong.
These days have passed so quickly.

They told me that the years would be oh so short. I laughed. And again, I was wrong.
These years have been the shortest of my life. You remind me often that you're "almost 4. Till April." It makes my heart hurt seeing you grow up so fast.

They told me that it would feel like my heart was walking outside my body. They were right.
Everything you do, everything you say, it makes me want to explode (sometimes in anger, sometimes in pride, sometimes in excitement and sometimes in fear).

They said that I would be proud of you. Of everything you became, and everything you did (well, almost everything you did ;) ). And they were right. I am.
You made me a mom. I prayed for a boy. A boy who would love sports as much as I do. Who wanted to play ball, and be rough and tumble, and be loving and kind. You are all of those things, and so much more. Wrapped up in the body of a handsome little fellow that God has allowed me to parent. You are my pride. You are my joy. And I'm so very grateful I get to call you my son.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

We've not had a very eventful weekend. Which is nice, and you won't find me complaining. I thought I'd share some of the highlights, in bullet point form.

Saturday morning Drew took Brayden to complete his registration for t-ball. We are all so excited, and can't wait for this new chapter for Brayden. He's patiently waited since last year, and now he's old enough. We still get atleast one question a day on when he can play football. Unfortunately he's still got 2 more years. He's constantly asking if the professional and/or college athletes are 5 years old since they can play football. I just love the logic of preschoolers.

Drew sat down and reminded Brayden of the incredible story of grace and provision that God had on our family when He made a way for us to sell our old house and purchase the one we are in now. Brayden doesn't quite understand it all, but he does remember some of the negative things going on around our old home. We are so grateful for the way God provided for our family, and hope that our boys will always know how blessed we are. We also want them to be a part of our journey in paying it off, so Drew created a little chart that the boys can help color in as we pay down on our mortgage.

The boys played outside most of the day Saturday and today. The weather has been gorgeous. They love riding bikes together.

Saturday night I went to see Les Miserable with two of my friends. I was kind of skeptical going in; people have either loved it or hated it. I may be emotionally void, because I didn't cry. But I did think the movie was really good. It was my first experience with the story... I somehow managed to not have to read it in high school.

One of the previews before Les Mis was for the new movie Identity Thief. I nearly peed my pants laughing during the trailer. It's on my "to-watch" list for sure, although I get a bit nervous spending money to go to the theatres for a rated R movie. Those are like a 50/50 chance that the previews are hilarious and then the actual movie is nothing but trash. So it may end up being a renter :)

The boys woke up SUPER early this morning. I could barely peel myself out of bed. I somehow was able to keep them in their beds (with me as the ring leader in their room) to let Drew sleep a bit longer, but tapped out at 7:30. Momma needed sleep.

The church service today was awesome. It was on maintaining faith and perspective through circumstances. I loved this quote that Dr. Bailey shared this morning: God permits what He hates, in order to accomplish what He loves. ~Joni Erickson Tada
Isn't that so good? I just love it. I may have to make some kind of word art with it and hang it in my house. It's a good reminder when things aren't really going the way I would want them to.

That was our weekend. Not exceptionally exciting, but these days I'm not sure I can take much activity ;)

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Hey Yall! I'm linking up with Kelly tomorrow to share some of my favorite soup recipes. We're big soup eaters at our house, especially in the winter. It's perfect for the cold weather, makes a ton (so I can freeze and save for later) and everyone is generally happy about it. Here are a few of my favorite soup recipes (these are both from my church's cookbook, which is one of my go-to cookbooks for our family).

Peel and slice the potatoes. Boil the potatoes, onion, chicken broth and water for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. I usually mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot until it's the consistency I like. Cube the cheese and put it and the whipping cream in the soup mixture, heating thoroughly until cheese is melted and well blended.

Drew's a big meat eater and likes to have some kind of meat with his meals, so I will brown breakfast sausage and put it in the soup so that it's a little more hearty... that's totally optional. We usually garnish with cheese and green onions. This makes about 8-10 servings.

TACO SOUP
2 pounds ground meat (we use beef), browned and drained
1 medium/large white onion, chopped
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet ranch seasoning
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans Rotel
1 can white or yellow hominy (I use white), drained and rinsed
1 can white or yellow corn, drained and rinsed
1 can green chilies(optional)
2-3 soup cans of water (you'll have to play around with what you like. This can be served like a chili, or like a soup, so it will depend on what consistency you prefer).
(you may add more green chilies if you'd like. The original recipe doesn't even call for them, but we like the added kick it gives the soup.

Cook the meat and onion, drain the fat. Dump all the other ingredients together in a big stock pot. Let it simmer for at least 2 hours. I have found that if I add too much water then the seasoning isn't as strong, so if you are wanting this to be a runnier soup, then you'll need to add a bit more of the taco and ranch seasoning to account for the extra water. This serves about 15, so it's great for groups, or to make and freeze half for later!

These are a few of the recipes for soups that I've found on Pinterest that we've really enjoyed.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Don't forget to check out the info on the Valentines Swap I'm co-hosting with my friend Laura. I'd love for you to join in the fun! You have till Friday to sign up. Just click HERE to read all the details.

How Far Along: 20 weeks, 5 days (I have an epidemic of running late with these posts)

Size of baby: 7 inches long and weighs approximately 11 ounces. About the size of a banana.

(did anyone else laugh at the size comparison? ha!)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 10 pounds. I honestly breathed a sigh of relief when I found out I had only gained 5 pounds over Christmas. I was sure it was at least 10 pounds after I ate my heart out for an entire week when we were at my parents.Maternity Clothes: It's all maternity clothes, unless I wear sweatpants and t-shirts. My normal sized t-shirts are too short now and don't cover my belly, so I've bumped up a size in t-shirts.

Gender: It's a BOY! We're naming him Tyler Paul.

Movement: He is starting to move a lot! I can feel him throughout the day, and most days around 9:30pm he really gets bumping. I told Drew I was kind of scared, because he moves a lot like Brayden did when I was pregnant with him, and I'm just not sure I can handle another high spirited boy. I'm praying he's laid back, easy going and doesn't have reflux (Connor's reflux was enough for all three boys combined. I'd rather not have a repeat of that drama).

Sleep: It's been as good as it can be for pregnancy sleep. This past week I've been exhausted, so I've gone to bed early most nights.

Symptoms: I've gotten a few bouts of heartburn. Frequent trips to the bathroom. I've also noticed if I don't drink more than 100 ounces of water a day, I get braxton hicks. So I have to drink A LOT of water.

What I miss: I miss sleeping on my tummy. And being able to move with ease.

Cravings: I have a standard craving for chips and salsa. I have also craved tabouli frequently throughout this pregnancy. I am so thankful for awesome friends... my friend Katie found out I had craved tabouli and made me a huge batch. It was divine and I ate the entire bowl in a day and a half.

Food Aversions: thankfully these are not really a factor anymore!

Best Moment this week: finding out that we were having another boy and that (so far) he seems perfectly healthy! I also love knowing that I will feel him move pretty much every day now.

What I am looking forward to: I just can't wait to meet him! I'm starting to pull out all of the baby stuff, which has me a bit overwhelmed trying to sort through everything. I can't wait to have his nursery organized and finished.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Some days I wish my life were created into a documentary. Not because it's all that interesting, but because some of the things that happen to me really are simply unbelievable. Today was one of those days.

Neither of my children have ever left somewhere without a fight. I've tried the candy bribe, the clinched teeth whispering threat, the ear tug, the shoulder pinch... you name it, I've tried it. Brayden is getting better, but still has his moments. And Connor. Well, he's redefining what it means to have epic toddler tantrums. The boy is the sweetest of sweets one moment, but can turn on a dime and turn into the most violent tantrum thrower this side of the Mississippi. This means that most places I leave, I look like a mad woman chasing down preschoolers and trying to get out with all of us alive.

This is truer than true especially when leaving their preschool. Generally I have to hold both backpacks, 2 lunch boxes, and today I had coats and blankets to boot. As luck would have it, Connor decided that he didn't want to leave preschool today. So he did the limp body toddler move that most 2 year olds have perfected, and I sat there, wondering if I should leave well enough alone, threaten or chase after Brayden, who was making a mad dash for the door. So there I was, 20 weeks pregnant, with a dilemma on my hands and no energy to skillfully chose correctly. So I chose to multitask, grabbing Connors foot and hauling him by the leg to the door, which was where Brayden was making his way through the crowd.

Somehow between his classroom and the door (which can't be more than 10-20 yards at the most), Brayden managed to take off his shirt. Mind you, I'm still pulling Connor by the leg and juggling all of the school and cold weather paraphernalia in my other arm. We get to the door. I frantically try to redress Brayden. Another mom decided she'd help encourage Brayden by telling him it was cold outside. Considering I can't keep Brayden in pants and long sleeves longer than 2 hours per day, I'd say that trying to tell him it's cold is not going to do the trick. Instead, I used the bribe option, offering gum after nap as a reward. It worked. Next, I turned to Connor, who was still laying on the floor saying he didn't want to stand up all the while kicking his legs simultaneously. Awesome (and yes, if you must know, I seriously considered just leaving him there in the hallway for someone else to handle). I opted to use the clinched teeth verbal threat on Connor. Normally that doesn't work on Connor but for some reason that I will never know, immediately after the clinched teeth threat, he offered to hold my hand (NEVER happens) and obliged to walk willingly to the car. Hallelujah and praise Jesus!

We managed to get in the car in near record time, and I heaved a sigh of relief as I got into the drivers seat. I was thankful that the drama was over, but all I could keep thinking was "how in the world am I going to manage this situation when there are THREE!?!?!" Mercy. Mama needs a coke.

Good Monday Morning yall! If you're like me, you're dragging. :) It comes with the Monday morning territory in our house. I have some fun news that should perk you up though... I'm co-hosting a favorite things Valentines Day swap with one of my very best bloggy friends Laura.

Laura had hosted a favorite things swap at Christmas but I was so busy with life that I couldn't paticipate. I mentioned to her how sad I was to miss it, and she suggested that we do another one for Valentines Day. But don't worry... you don't need a Valentines to participate! Basically we just want to do a swap that includes all of our favorite things, and then send it to a swap partner. How fun is that?! I love getting mail, and then getting a box full of goodies sounds even better!

We've called our swap "Little Lovies" Here's the details on how to participate:

1. You need to sign up by Friday, January 18, by sending an email to Laura at emaillaurawick{at}gmail.com. Please put "vday swap" in the subject and include your name, address and blog url. (Laura will respond to your email within 24 hours to let you know she received it.)

2. You will receive your swap partner no later than Monday, January 21.

3. The spend limit for this swap is $15. Include anything you love. It could be a book you read and love that you just have sitting on your shelf collecting dust. Write out your favorite recipe. Nail polish. Pens. Explain a favorite kind of date night. You can include as many or as few things as you want... just stay in the spend limit!

4. Mail your package by Saturday, February 2. That gives you two weeks to put your package together and should garauntee delivery by the link up date...

5. Show off what you got and link up on February 14.
Be sure to use this button in your post:

Open to US residents only (sorry, but international shipping is just too expensive!)

I hope you participate! The more participants we have, the more fun it will see what everyone loves, and the more "Little Lovies" that get to go around.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Saturday morning Drew took the boys to the healthclub so that I could focus on Tyler's room. Drew had pulled down all of the boy clothes from the past 3 years (I've saved pretty much every piece of clothing from both boys). I had to sort through all of it. At first I was excited about it. Then I got a bit overwhelmed. Can you see why?

This is a little less than half of the clothes. Little boy clothes are cute, but goodness. When it is truckloads full the cuteness wears off really fast ;)

Thankfully with an empty house an a bit of motivation, I was able to sort into the stuff I was going to sell (a lot of the stuff Connor wore as an infant won't work for Tyler because of seasons), give to Goodwill, and keep for Tyler. Now I'm on to cleaning. Also, it should be noted that Oxyclean is the most amazing stuff EVER. Some of the clothes I thought for sure Connor had ruined for good thanks to his awesome reflux, I soaked in Oxyclean and it all came out! Between that and when the Oxyclean took out all of the blood when he cut the tip of his finger off, I'm a fan of Oxyclean (fyi: I was not paid for saying this, I just truly believe in the product after seeing first hand how well it works).

Today we just had our typical Sunday family day. This morning when I finished getting ready, I walked into the kitchen to see Drew and the boys laying down watching Mr Rogers together:

We ate as a family at Sam's Club today after church. We needed several things from there so we just made a date of it. And that was pretty much our weekend :) Hope yall have had a fabulous weekend too!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

One of our Christmas presents to my little niece was a little princess skirt. I loved it and knew I had to get it for her. I think Zoe liked it too. Here are a few pics I took of Zoe after she got her skirt. We were so bummed to not have a big bow to go along with her girly skirt, but these pictures turned out cute nonetheless. I just loves her so much!